L’Equipe reveals Kylian Mbappe playing stance ahead of Real Madrid vs Barcelona Super Cup showdown | OneFootball

FC Barcelona may have lost the first El Clasico of the 2025 26 season, but they have been handed an immediate chance to respond as they prepare to face Real Madrid once again in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.

The Blaugrana will meet their eternal rivals after Real Madrid secured their place in the final with a narrow 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the semi-final played at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

However, much of the pre-match discussion is currently centred on the availability of Kylian Mbappe, whose fitness remains a major talking point ahead of the showdown.

The French forward did not initially travel with the rest of the Madrid squad due to a knee issue, but later joined the team after taking a special flight.

Speaking after his side booked their place in the final, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso addressed the situation directly and made one of the most eye-catching statements of the night:

“Kylian Mbappe will travel tomorrow, and the match will be different.”

The coach also shared further insight into the player’s condition, adding, “He is much better,” “the feelings are good,” and “the chances would be the same for everyone.”

Despite the optimism coming from the Madrid camp, doubts remain over whether the Frenchman will actually be risked in such a high-intensity match. As reported by Mundo Deportivo, the situation has also drawn significant attention in France, where L’Equipe ran the headline, “Mbappé does not want to take unnecessary risks, Madrid want to play him against Barça.”

In its report, the prestigious French outlet stated that “the forward wants to avoid unnecessary risks,” highlighting a more cautious stance from the player himself despite Real Madrid’s desire to have him available for the final.

L’Equipe also recalled that Mbappe suffered “a knee injury at the beginning of December” and has been “completely sidelined since December 31 after an MRI revealed a sprain, according to the Madrid club.”

The report further noted that “it was initially expected that the Frenchman would be out for three weeks. But just eleven days after his enforced rest, he could already be back in action.”

For now, Mbappe remains a doubt for the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona. With silverware on the line and another El Clasico looming, Real Madrid face a delicate decision between pushing their star forward back into action or erring on the side of caution, a call that could have a significant impact on the outcome of Sunday’s clash.